The British expedition brings eleven ships of the line, supporting vessels, and nearly five thousand men. Antonio de Gaztañeta has roughly two thousand Spanish troops. The British planners have studied Spanish movements in detail. A report by Woodes Rogers and Jonathan Denniss considers how Spain might divert treasure through Acapulco, Veracruz, and Havana rather than expose it at Porto Bello. The document weighs sea passages, land carriage, transshipment, and the possibility of dispatching bullion in fast independent ships. The analysis is sophisticated, but it also shows that the defender has alternative routes and can trade speed and convenience for security.
Chapter · 17:01-20:48
Hosier's intelligence-led Porto Bello blockade
Francis Hosier takes a large squadron and detailed route intelligence to Porto Bello in an attempt to control the movement of Spanish bullion.